Ankeny Fanatic

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Chris Allen

‘Leave it on the field’: Experienced Jaguars seek their 4th title in 7 seasons

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team has won three state championships in the last six seasons. Now, the Jaguars will try to defend the Class 3A title they won a year ago--something they were unable to do in 2017 and 2019. However, Centennial coach Chris Allen said his team isn't focusing on the big picture. "We have not set any goals as a team … [Read more...] about ‘Leave it on the field’: Experienced Jaguars seek their 4th title in 7 seasons

Kovacs named United Soccer Coaches High School All-American

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Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer standout Courtney Kovacs has joined an exclusive club. The senior defender has been named a 2022 United Soccer Coaches High School Girls Winter-Spring All-American. She becomes only the third player under Centennial coach Chris Allen to earn All-American honors, joining Meg Brandt (2016) and Olivia Brown … [Read more...] about Kovacs named United Soccer Coaches High School All-American

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kate Bergan, Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer

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Junior goalkeeper Kate Bergan played a key role as the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team captured its third Class 3A state title on Saturday at Cownie Park. She was named to the all-tournament team after the Jaguars defeated Council Bluffs Lincoln, 2-0, in the championship game. On Thursday, Bergan made four consecutive saves during the penalty-kick … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kate Bergan, Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer

Porter responds to coach’s challenge, leads Jaguars to 3rd state championship

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During the first half of Saturday's Class 3A championship game against second-ranked Council Bluffs Lincoln, Ankeny Centennial midfielder Averi Porter struggled to become part of the Jaguars' offensive attack. At one point, Centennial coach Chris Allen yelled at Porter from the sideline. "Averi, we can't have you be a spectator today!" he said. A … [Read more...] about Porter responds to coach’s challenge, leads Jaguars to 3rd state championship

‘Absolutely incredible’: Jaguars complete revenge tour, capture 3A crown

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The revenge tour is complete for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The fifth-ranked Jaguars got a pair of goals from Averi Porter and defeated No. 2 Council Bluffs Lincoln, 2-0, in the Class 3A championship game on Saturday at Cownie Park. The win was Centennial's third in a row at the state tournament against a team it had lost to during the … [Read more...] about ‘Absolutely incredible’: Jaguars complete revenge tour, capture 3A crown

‘Kate is an absolute beast’: Bergan’s saves shock No. 1 Valley, send Jaguars to final

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Ankeny Centennial's Cady Compton wasn't worried when Thursday's showdown against top-ranked Valley in the Class 3A semifinals of the girls' state soccer tournament went to a shootout at Cownie Park. She knew that the No. 5 Jaguars had goalkeeper Kate Bergan on their side. "Kate is an absolute beast," said Compton. "We've been in this situation before, … [Read more...] about ‘Kate is an absolute beast’: Bergan’s saves shock No. 1 Valley, send Jaguars to final

‘We were really motivated’: Centennial’s revenge tour begins with win over NW

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The Class 3A state tournament could become a revenge tour for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The fifth-ranked Jaguars avenged one of their three losses with a 2-1 victory over No. 4 Waukee Northwest in a Class 3A quarterfinal on Tuesday at Cownie Park. The Wolves had posted a 1-0 win over Centennial on May 13. "We were really motivated, and … [Read more...] about ‘We were really motivated’: Centennial’s revenge tour begins with win over NW

Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney

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The Johnston girls' soccer team entered Thursday's Class 3A regional final at Ankeny Centennial with a pedestrian 9-7 mark. Centennial coach Chris Allen and his players knew, however, that the 14th-ranked Dragons were better than what their record showed. "We went to overtime with them earlier this season so we were expecting a really competitive … [Read more...] about Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney

‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final

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The rainy weather conditions proved to be a huge obstacle for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team on Tuesday. "The biggest thing we faced was connecting passes in those conditions," said Centennial coach Chris Allen. "We had a lot of balls that would just skip past a player. It kind of made it difficult to play the style we wanted to … [Read more...] about ‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final

Pennington’s perseverance pays off in Jaguars’ 1-0 win over Dowling Catholic

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Tuesday's game against visiting Dowling Catholic was a perfect tune-up for the postseason for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The non-conference battle was the kind of contest that the Jaguars are going to have to win over the next few weeks to reach their ultimate goal. Third-ranked Centennial got a goal from Alanna Pennington in the 63rd … [Read more...] about Pennington’s perseverance pays off in Jaguars’ 1-0 win over Dowling Catholic

Wolves end Centennial winning streak, force Jaguars to share league crown

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The CIML Iowa Conference boasts three of the top five girls' soccer teams in Class 3A. It seems only fitting that the three squads will now likely share the league crown. Fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest bounced back from Tuesday's shootout loss to No. 4 Ankeny with a 1-0 victory over No. 3 Ankeny Centennial on Friday at Northwest. The loss ended a … [Read more...] about Wolves end Centennial winning streak, force Jaguars to share league crown

Centennial girls top Ames, clinch share of CIML Iowa Conference crown

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team clinched at least a share of the CIML Iowa Conference title with a 1-0 victory at Ames on Tuesday. The third-ranked Jaguars improved to 5-0 in the league and 13-2 overall with their ninth straight win. It was their fourth shutout in a row and their 12th of the season. "Defensively, any of the 11 girls who were … [Read more...] about Centennial girls top Ames, clinch share of CIML Iowa Conference crown

Jaguars get hat tricks from Pennington, Fair in 9-0 victory over East girls

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team struggled to solve Des Moines East's goalkeeper during Friday's non-conference game at Centennial. The third-ranked Jaguars led by just 1-0 at halftime, despite dominating the run of play throughout the first 40 minutes. "We found ourselves getting into the 18 (repeatedly), but East’s keeper put on an absolute … [Read more...] about Jaguars get hat tricks from Pennington, Fair in 9-0 victory over East girls

‘I just rebounded it back in’: Jaguars knock off No. 2 Ankeny on Kroska’s goal

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Ankeny Centennial's Olivia Kroska found herself in the right place at the right time. The freshman midfielder scored on a rebound for the game's only goal to give the fourth-ranked Jaguars a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Ankeny in a CIML Iowa Conference girls' soccer showdown on Tuesday at Ankeny Stadium. "They really came at us in the second half, to be … [Read more...] about ‘I just rebounded it back in’: Jaguars knock off No. 2 Ankeny on Kroska’s goal

No. 2 Hawkettes, No. 4 Jaguars each finish 3-0 at Tournament of Champions

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Another dominant weekend by the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer teams sets up a huge showdown between the crosstown rivals on Tuesday for Jag-Hawk supremacy. Second-ranked Ankeny and No. 4 Centennial each went 3-0 on Friday and Saturday in the Tournament of Champions at Burlington. The Hawkettes are now 12-0 and still have yet to allow a goal … [Read more...] about No. 2 Hawkettes, No. 4 Jaguars each finish 3-0 at Tournament of Champions

Martin, Compton lead Centennial girls past Dodgers for 3rd straight shutout

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Freshman Ava Martin played a key role this season for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team, coming off the bench as one of the Jaguars' top reserves. Now, she's filling a similar role for the Centennial girls' soccer team. Martin had a hat trick and also contributed an assist to lead the fourth-ranked Jaguars to a 12-0 victory on Tuesday at … [Read more...] about Martin, Compton lead Centennial girls past Dodgers for 3rd straight shutout

‘The team continues to ascend’: Jaguars roll to 9-0 victory at Mason City

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team was ready for Mason City's defensive strategy. The fourth-ranked Jaguars scored six goals in the first half and went on to post a 9-0 road victory in a CIML Iowa Conference game on Friday. "We expected to see a high back line with numbers behind the ball--up to six players in the defensive line," said Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘The team continues to ascend’: Jaguars roll to 9-0 victory at Mason City

‘It was an awesome team effort’: Jaguars dominate 2nd half for 5-0 win over SEP

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It took awhile for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team to figure out its opponent on a chilly Monday night. After scoring just one goal in the first half, the fourth-ranked Jaguars added four more in the second half to defeat visiting Southeast Polk, 5-0, in a non-conference game. "All in all, it was an awesome team effort," said Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘It was an awesome team effort’: Jaguars dominate 2nd half for 5-0 win over SEP

No. 1 Valley girls score late goal to win showdown against No. 4 Centennial

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Don't be surprised if the Ankeny Centennial and Valley girls' soccer teams meet again. The two CIML rivals have collided in the Class 3A state tournament in two of the last four seasons. Top-ranked Valley escaped with a 1-0 victory on Friday in a non-conference game at No. 4 Centennial. The contest was played amid chilly conditions. "We definitely … [Read more...] about No. 1 Valley girls score late goal to win showdown against No. 4 Centennial